Next Season...

[zerorespects]

so this place is like a ghost town, and we might as well start talking about next season.

are we finally getting the brazilian da silva back from loan?
will he be good? has anyone heard anything?
where can we/will we finish?
what should our lineup look like?
will sara be more optimistic?
will we face a relegation battle or a european struggle?
is mcfadden good enough to partner beattie or should we ship in a new striker?
will yobo stay?
which is better: cheesecake or carrotcake (no one better say carrot... :mad: )
will anichebe and vaughan finally get their shots?
who will be captain?
will weir and stubbs get new contracts?
where does the squad need strengthening the most?
is moyes really the best man for the job?
will we ever get investment?
what's the dilly w/ the new stadium?
how much money does moyes have to spend?

*sigh*
just off the top of my head.

discussitize it, cap'ns.

[sarabella]

are we finally getting the brazilian da silva back from loan?

Who knows.

will he be good? has anyone heard anything?

Haven't heard a word.

where can we/will we finish?

We CAN finish midtable, but that will be really difficult unless we do some decent shopping in the summer.

what should our lineup look like?

I hate making those stupid little lineup thingys.

will sara be more optimistic?

I tried that this season and it didn't work. So ******** it, I'm all-out pessimist for next season. :D

will we face a relegation battle or a european struggle?

Neither, I expect next season to be horribly boring.

is mcfadden good enough to partner beattie or should we ship in a new striker?

I think as long as Moyes continues to show faith in him, his confidence will stay high and we can worry about getting some defenders in instead.

will yobo stay?

Nope.

which is better: cheesecake or carrotcake (no one better say carrot... )

I like 'em both, but cheesecake is my fave.

will anichebe and vaughan finally get their shots?

I think we'll see them as subs pretty often if Big Dunc really does retire.

who will be captain?

Phil Neville.

will weir and stubbs get new contracts?

Stubbs may get another year, but Weir is finished.

where does the squad need strengthening the most?

Defense. We definitely need two young centerbacks and probably a left back, considering I doubt Pistone will perform to the standards he did when he was fighting for a contract (which is the only time he's good enough to start at LB) and that Valente has off and on been complete shite. We also need a starting goalkeeper - WRIGHT MUST GO!

is moyes really the best man for the job?

Yeah, if he can get his shit together in the transfer market, he'd be damn near perfect.

will we ever get investment?

Nope.

what's the dilly w/ the new stadium?

See the above question.

how much money does moyes have to spend?

Moyes has a transfer kitty? hmmmm....

[Rocket]

I'm hoping we're able to pick up ManUtd goalkeeper Tim Howard.

He's certainly not helping himself spending so much time on the bench, and I think Everton would be the ideal place for him: sort of big club; reasonably patient fans who won't clamour to bench him after his first miscue, etc.

Tim is a very athletic goalkeeper, who is prone to the occasional goof. But I think his overall outstanding play more than makes up for the "once in a blue moon" gaffes.

And, BTW, I've never met a nicer guy in the MLS, and that's saying a lot.

[sarabella]

Personally, I don't think Howard is a good fit. We need someone who can come in and step right into the starting position without making Wright-esque mistakes. Tim hasn't played regularly in a looooong time and when he did, he was prone to those types of blunders.

[BPBlueSox]

I'm just gonna chime in that I like carrot cake better than cheesecake. :D

[Big_Bad_Mcnabb]

are we finally getting the brazilian da silva back from loan?

Yes we should be getting him.

will he be good? has anyone heard anything?

I think hes only played 6 games and has something like 2 reds. Hes a 6'2 DM so he could add some steel to the midfield but hes just gonna be a bench warmer i think.

where can we/will we finish?

Well finish another boring season in mid table.

what should our lineup look like?

If we have a 11 players ill be happy.

will sara be more optimistic?

I took this as a serious questionnaire until i came upon this question.

will we face a relegation battle or a european struggle?

same as this season.

is mcfadden good enough to partner beattie or should we ship in a new striker?

Nope, well try to bring in another 2 strikers but well definately need another 1.

will yobo stay?

In England yes, Everton No.

which is better: cheesecake or carrotcake (no one better say carrot... )

Carrot cake.

will anichebe and vaughan finally get their shots?

Anichebe is only being mentioned due to our lack of strikers hes gonna need a lot of work before hes ready to have any kind of impact on the first team. Vaughan i think has already had 3 lengthy surgeries on his knee and in the U.S.A with a knee specialist and has had a fourth knee surgery, his career could be over before its begun.

who will be captain?

Phil Neville.

will weir and stubbs get new contracts?

Stubbs will get another year, but Weir should retire.

where does the squad need strengthening the most?

Up front and in defense. We need a new keeper aswell. like Sara said 2 new young centrebacks are a must also 2 new strikers.

is moyes really the best man for the job?

For now, he needs to change his style of play cos were not happy with watching the kinda crap that is served up at our matches.

will we ever get investment?

There is more chance that Anne Boleyn finds her head that Wyness and Kenwright have of getting us investments.

what's the dilly w/ the new stadium?

Wyness react to Liverpool, when they mention something about their stadium he quickly comes out and says were looking into our own stadium, same happens with investment aswell. He last said that a decision will be made before the end of the year about whats happening.

how much money does moyes have to spend?

A peice of mouldy cheese and half a snickers.


realistically tho i would say at most 10m but that might be opptomistic.

[Rocket]

Personally, I don't think Howard is a good fit. We need someone who can come in and step right into the starting position without making Wright-esque mistakes. Tim hasn't played regularly in a looooong time and when he did, he was prone to those types of blunders.
You used to live in Chicago. Didn't you follow Tim Howard when he was in MLS?

Howard was one of the top keepers in MLS for several years in a row. And he was the EPL Goalkeeper of the Year his first (or second?) year in the Premiership.

This is a good keeper we're talking about here.

And not some clone of Richard Wright

[sarabella]

Being the top keeper in MLS and being competitive in one of the top leagues in Europe are two very different things. Tim is currently the #3 for the national team, for crying out loud, so that's got to tell you something.

I'm not saying he's a bad keeper. I'm saying he's not a good fit for us. We need someone who's ready to go now, not someone who might get his stuff together after six months of regular playing time. We cannot afford to sit through his blunders while he regains fitness and gets used to playing all the time.

[chifirefan]

Can Chelsea loan Cudicini to us? Please? He's a keeper that could step in and take control. I like Timmy H. but, as Sara said, I don't necessarily think he's a good fit for EFC.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Can Chelsea loan Cudicini to us? Please? He's a keeper that could step in and take control. I like Timmy H. but, as Sara said, I don't necessarily think he's a good fit for EFC.

That would be most perfect IMHO. Cudicini is still one of the top 5 keepers in the EPL.

I would like to see Yobo and Weir go...Ferrari I don't care if he stays, but since we need him, I guess it'll be okay. Maybe we can get a defender on the cheap. As for a striker...I think we need to give young Anichebe a chance.

hopefully, van der Meyde will show up next season. Leon Osman is a game fellow, but he doesn't have the quality for the Premiership, ditto for Kilbane.

[mischaDCU]

Getting Cudicini would be great, but I can't believe they'd part with him, even on loan, and would he even want to play for Everton?

Ozzy's scored some good goals for us over the years, so I might keep him around, but Killa can go. Depending on whether Cahill goes and who we can get in return would depend on my views on Osman.

I saw a post on another forum suggesting we look at Forsell and Zoltan Gera (assuming BRM and WBA go down), and also speculated on our chances of getting Malbranque. Forsell hasn't had a great year and is injury prone, but can certainly score; might be a good gamble and might go more cheaply because of this year. Gera can be very good and can play up top too, and Malbranque has been wanting away from Fulham for a while, yes? I wonder if we could compete for him. Assuming we lose Cahill to ManU players like Malbranque and Gera could be very useful indeed.

All wild speculation and day-dreaming of course.

[sarabella]

We've gotta keep Osman. You people are crazy.

EDIT: And screw Forsell. We don't need an injury-prone prima donna.

[Rocket]

Being the top keeper in MLS and being competitive in one of the top leagues in Europe are two very different things. Tim is currently the #3 for the national team, for crying out loud, so that's got to tell you something.

Don't you follow Man Utd at all?

Tim Howard was named to the Profession Footballer's Association "Best XI" his first year at Man Utd.

That means he was the top goalkeeper in the Premiership, according to his peers.


As to your your point about Tim Howard being the #3 keeper for the USMNT.

You are aware that the U.S. has historically been strong at goalkeeper, aren't you?

The #1 keeper, Kasey Keller, is one of the top goalkeepers in the Bundesliga.
And the #2 keeper, Marcus Hahnemann, is a very strong keeper too (not to mention that he'll be playing in the EPL next season).

Being #3 is hardly a slight on Howard's abilities.

[sarabella]

Of course I'm aware of these things. Timmy got off to a great start at Manchester United. Lots of people have a good season. Christ, Pistone was fabulous last season.

However, Howard's second and third years have been not so good. And, for me, consistency is the key in a goalkeeper. He's fantastic one game and then gives one up through the five-hole the next. Or makes an idiotic pass.

I'm not denying his potential. Given regular playing time, I think Tim can be a great goalkeeper (and one good season three years ago at Manchester United does not make him a great goalkeeper).

THAT is why I don't feel he's a good fit for Everton. That's my only concern in this matter. Everton.

And one more thing - yes, I understand that goalkeeper is historically our strongest point. The point is, right now, he isn't in a position to fight for even the #2 spot. And Everton need a goalkeeper right now.

[Rocket]

Of course I'm aware of these things. Timmy got off to a great start at Manchester United. Lots of people have a good season. Christ, Pistone was fabulous last season.

Tim Howard had about 4 good seasons in a row.

Three of them happened to be in MLS, and one in the EPL.

But big deal.

Good goalkeeping is good goalkeeping is good goalkeeping.



However, Howard's second and third years have been not so good. And, for me, consistency is the key in a goalkeeper. He's fantastic one game and then gives one up through the five-hole the next. Or makes an idiotic pass.

Who's the young England keeper who's very athletic and make some amazing saves, but occasionally gives up the howler? David James, isn't it?

Tim Howard is very similar to that guy in potential and the ability to pull out the big save.

But the big difference is that

1) David James plays for Man City, and thus gets a fair amount more of leeway than he would at Man Utd.

2) David James is English, and thus gets a fair amount more leeway than the typical foreign player, and especially an American.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

And David James is 36 ;)

[chifirefan]

Hey Rocket...you are Tim Howard and I claim my $5.00. :p

Give it up...Tim Howard is just not a good fit for EFC. He was a good goalkeeper at one time, but has not had enough recent experience to prove that his ability is still there. I'm not denying that he might still be a capable Premier League keeper, but he's an unknown at this point.

Hell, Richard Wright had a few good seasons before he signed for us and, well, look how well that's gone!

I think EFC needs a current/proven keeper, i.e. Cudicini, Robinson, Given. (As if any of them would leave their current clubs for EFC...ha.)

Just my .02.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Actually, I must admit that Richard Wright was my favorite goalkeeper in the EPL when he played for Ipswich Town. :o

[mischaDCU]

I think EFC needs a current/proven keeper, i.e. Cudicini, Robinson, Given. (As if any of them would leave their current clubs for EFC...ha.)


But isn't that the point, realistically speaking? The fact is, the chances of getting a keeper of Cudicini's quality at Everton are slim to none (the possibility of a loan being the main hope). And any decent keeper with EPL pedigree that doesn't have some risk is likely to spark a bidding war, which we all know how well we do at.

Timmy Howard may not be the keeper we want, but he is likely one of the best options we could realistically hope to get. He has EPL experience for a team with very high standards, so we know that he won't be a Kroldrup (i.e., just not up to it). He certainly has some downsides and risk, as well. But he is probably hungry enough for playing time that he might consider moving from ManU to a team like Everton (it's the only reason we got Neville). And being a yank, he might even come cheap.

I'd still take him over Wright. Frankly, I'd rather we play Turner than Wright, especially with where the season is now. At least he has longterm upside.

[chifirefan]

Touche! Yes, the only way we'd realistically get any of the keepers mentioned would be via a loan deal. So, yes, Howard would probably be a reasonable choice. Though not one that I would like to see. IMHO.